In Montecito, California, U.S. Highway 101 Interchange at Olive Mill Road before and after a mudslide buried parts of it for 12 days. Caltrans communications workers took these award-winning photos and others to help keep the public informed.Caltrans has been honored with four awards for the department’s public information work. The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Committee on Transportation Communications (TransComm) presented the awards.
“At Caltrans, we are dedicated to public service, and these TransComm awards show that we not only work hard to get our job done, but we work hard to let the public know what we’re doing,” says Caltrans Director Laurie Berman.
TransComm recognized Caltrans for:
- The June 2017 Caltrans Mile Marker that explains Senate Bill 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017.
- Caltrans’ crisis management communication during the devastating Montecito flood and mudslide this January that buried a portion of U.S. Highway 101 under 12 feet of mud and debris for 12 days.
- Caltrans’ photo of U.S. Highway 101 showing the highway before and after Caltrans and its contractor cleared the road and opened it to traffic. Caltrans News Flash #162 shows what went into cleaning and reopening the highway.
Caltrans District 5 public information officers Susana Cruz and Jim Shivers were also recognized for their outstanding public communications.
Susana Cruz, Caltrans public information officer.
Jim Shivers, Caltrans public information officer.Between February 2017 and January 2018, California’s central coast suffered intense weather-related events, including damage to the Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge, slides at Mud Creek, the Thomas Fire, and the Montecito flood and mudslide.
The state transportation system in the Central Coast was severely damaged, and these events had tremendous emotional and economic effects on communities in the area. Cruz and Shivers were Caltrans’ public faces for those events.
“Susana Cruz and Jim Shivers were amazing during Mother Nature’s fits,” says Berman. “The public, but especially the communities most affected by these devastating events, came to rely on Susana and Jim and their calm demeanor. We’re really lucky to have them on the Caltrans team.”
The Spirit of TransComm Award recognizes nonmanagerial state transportation communications staff for their professionalism, expertise in their specialization, and positive effects on identified audiences.
TransComm is made up of public affairs professionals from the 50 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. It promotes excellence in communications through the exchange of ideas and educational programming, presents annual skills awards and advises other committees on communications issues.
